Tags : rafael nadal, serena williams
Nadal Reaches Quarters, Serena Out In Beijing; Tsonga Advances In Tokyo
Beijing, China (AHN) – Top-seeded Rafael Nadal survived a grueling three-set challenge from unseeded American James Blake, while Serena Williams crashed out Thursday at the China Open.
Former world No. 1 Nadal fended off a pesky Blake to notch a 7-5, 6-7 (4-7), 6-3 victory at the Olympic Green Tennis Center.
It was the same venue where the Spaniard won the gold in last year’s Olympics.
Nadal, a six-time major champ, will be tested next by former world No. 1 and Beijing titlist Marat Safin, who ousted No. 7 seed Fernando Gonzalez 6-3, 6-4.
French Open runner-up Robin Soderling also landed in the quarters after the sixth-seeded Swede prevailed over Poland’s Lukasz Kubot 7-6 (8-6), 4-6, 6-4.
In the women’s draw, Williams, current world No. 2, battled back from a sluggish start, but could not find the answer to a determined Russian Nadia Petrova in the third round Thursday.
The 13th seeded Russian overpowered Williams en route to a 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 (7-5) upset. Petrova will next face local bet Peng Shuai, who ousted Russian superstar Maria Sharapova Wednesday.
Despite the setback, the reigning Wimbledon and Australian Open titlist Serena is set to reclaim the top ranking from Dinara Safina Monday, when the new WTA list will be issued.
Other third-round winners were seventh seeded Russian Vera Zvonareva, Polish 12th seed Agnieszka Radwanska and 14th seed Marion Bartoli of France.
In Tokyo, second-seeded Jo-Wilfried Tsongo prevailed over windy conditions brought about by Typhoon Melor to advance into the quarters of the Japan Open.
Tsonga outlasted French compatriot Richard Gasquet 4-6, 6-2, 6-2 in the second round of the $1,226,500 event.
Fifth seed and defending champion Tomas Berdych of the Czech Republic also booked a quarterfinal slot after a 6-4, 6-1 demolition of German Andreas Beck.
Berdych’s quarterfinal opponent will be Russia’s Mikhail Youzhny, who eliminated No. 3 seed Gilles Simon of France 7-6 (7-5) 6-7 (5-7) 6-4.
Eighth-seeded Australian Lleyton Hewitt also advanced after dealing veteran Frabrice Santoro, who is playing on his farewell tour, with a 6-3 3-6 1-6 loss.
Related posts:
- Djokovic, Davydenko Triumph, Sharapova Ousted In China, Tsonga Wins Tokyo Opener
- Nadal Topples Gonzalez, Advances To U.S. Open Semifinals
- Nadal, Serena Make Last 16; Clijsters Ousts Venus
- Safina, Venus Williams, Kuznetsova Fall At Pan Pacific; Sharapova Advances
- Petrova Wins At China Open, Tsonga Edges Gulbis In Japan
